Octane May 2022

DRIVING A FERRARI 250 GTO has been one of the high points of my career, as it seems to be for any motoring hack that has had the privilege (associate editor Glen Waddington has also driven one, though he doesn’t like to mention it… at least not more than once an hour). ‘Mine’ was actually a late car (4675 GT) from the Matsuda collection in Japan and it was a big deal at the time – early 2010 – because it was due to be the first to come up for sale at public auction for a very long time. That meant that a value would finally be ‘out there’ to end the speculation over how far prices might have risen. In the end, it sold privately before the RM sale…

JAMES PAGE ‘It’s always a thrill to be around cars such as the 26R and the GTO, but it’s the people who have owned and raced them that fascinate me most. Talking to Jackie Oliver and Nick Mason this month was therefore the icing on the cake.’ Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO: pages 56-68. The ex-Jackie Oliver Lotus 26R: pages 126-132. DENNIS NOTEN ‘I just love the fact that someone decided to stick two turbochargers on a Citroën SM, then took it to a salt lake to race it. And got a record in the process. Then went back for more! I love those crazy ideas.’ Dennis’s stunning images of the SM record car – and its matching towing rig – accompany Marc Sonnery’s story on pages 70-80. SIMON RICKETTS ‘I’ve never seen…

After two years’ enforced hiatus, the visually stunning International Concours of Elegance St Moritz attracted a real A-list of priceless classic cars to the frozen lake in the Swiss Alps. They ranged from Maserati 4CL to the likes of Lamborghini Miura and Mini-Cooper S, with some 45 entrants vying for five classes. Among the winners was Jaguar C-type PUR 120 (this picture), which snapped up the Barchettas on the Lake award. It has been in the same family for 50 years, and three generations of the Finburghs were there to see it win.…

1-3 April The Flying Scotsman Vintage cars follow a route that winds from Northumberland to St Andrews and through the Cairngorms on the way to the traditional finish at Gleneagles. endurorally.com 7-10 April Sorrento Roads Pre-1991 cars head to the picture-postcard Sorrento Peninsula in Italy for a new event that is part tour and part regularity. 1000miglia.it 9-10 April Goodwood Members’ Meeting The ‘Chain Gang’ kicks things off this year, with pre-war Frazer Nashes racing for the AFP Fane Trophy before F3 cars, GP bikes and more do battle. Visitors will also enjoy a noisy demonstration featuring some 20 cars from Formula 1’s V10 era. goodwood.com 12 April Gaydon Gathering A free evening event at the British Motor Museum – the first of several planned for 2022. Classic vehicles of…

LET’S GET ONE thing straight: Goodwood Festival of Speed isn’t a great event – it’s a whole series of great events! A colossal amount of work and imagination lies behind the Festival so it seems proper that visitors should have a plan to make the most of this unique gathering. For a start, look upon the journey there as part of the enjoyment. Those coming from the north on the A286 describe the experience as a delightful driver’s road and, nowadays, you can get lucky and drive into Goodwood from any direction without much delay. The Goodwood car parks are quite a hike from the event centre, so look for the tractors with passenger trailers and save your legs for the good stuff. The best way to avoid the traffic…

IT WAS A LONG time coming but, after 26 years, Lotus has officially closed the books on the Elise. The final customer car is this Championship Gold Elise Sport 240 Final Edition, which has been handed over to its first – and most likely last – owner, Elisa Artioli. Elisa is a huge Elise enthusiast and, as the car has played such a huge part in her life, it’s no surprise. The granddaughter of former Lotus owner (and the man that brought the Bugatti EB110 into the world) Romano Artioli, Elisa was key in the unveiling of the original Elise in 1995. At 3½ years old, and hiding under the covers, she jumped up and shouted ‘I am Elise!’ as it was unveiled to the world. The car, of course,…